Boiies cleaner



w. P. THOMAS BOILER CLEANER Aug. 28, 1934.

Original Filed July 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, i934. w THOMAS Re.19,296

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed July 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l'nvenibr. ll s p 72009075 Reissued Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT o-FFlcEBOILER, CLEANER Willis P. Thomas, Detroit, Mich, assignor to BiamcndPower Specialty Corporation, Detroit, Mlich., a corporationof Michigan1932, Serial No. 635,088

38 Claims. (Cl. 122392) This invention relates to boiler cleaners andhas particular reference to a boiler cleaner of the character in which ablower element is adapted'to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent portionsof the boiler to be cleaned.

The invention relates also to a device i" or loosen ing slag depositsfrom the parts of boilers.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a blowerelement which may be .10 utilized in the hottest parts of the boilerwithout being burned up and to thus provide a blower ele ment which willnot require frequent renewal.

The invention contemplates in particular the provision of a blowerelement and means assol5 ciated with this blower element for cooling thesame.

A ftu'therob'jectof the invention is to provide means for efiecting asudden cooling and contraction of slag deposits upon the tubes or otherparts of a boiler, this contraction having the effect of loosening theslag completely from the boiler parts or eiiecting a sufficientloosening to permit a subsequent ready removal thereof.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.649,140, filed July 2, 1923.

1 Other objects and advantages of this invention will become moreapparent as the following description proceeds, particularly whenreference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a boiler showing a boiler cleanerconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this inventionassociated with the'same;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially .35 on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

V be of any desired construction, the present invention being moreparticularly directed to a construction for cleaning parts of the boilersuch, for example, as the boiler tubes 13.

Mounted on certain of the boiler tubes such,

.. 5 for example, as those designated by the reference character 13 areflattened pipes 14 which constitute blower elements. As clearlyillustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, each blower element preferablycomprises a tubular member having a lower wall 15 which is shaped toconform to the curvature of and which seats on one of the boiler tubes13*. Thus one side of the fluid passage formed by the blower element isdefined by a side i of the boiler tube with which the blower element isassociated, the blower element seating on the tube and embracing aportion of the same.

Each pipe 14 may be of a width to project laterally somewhat beyond theportion of the boiler tube with which it is associated and a row ofdischarge openings 16 is formed in each of .these projecting portions.Thus cleaning fluid or the like supplied to the blower element will bedischarged adjacent the boiler tube or boiler part with which the blowerelement is associated and will thus eiTect a cleaning of the same. 7

For securing each pipe 14 firmly in contact with its correspondingboiler tube 13 wedges 1'7 are preferably inserted between the pipes 14and the overlying boiler tubes 13.

The pipes 14 are supplied with cleaning fluids from a header 20 whichhas connections to corresponding ends of the pipes, each of saidconnections comprising aligned nipples 21 fixed respectively to theheader and to the respective pipe and connected by a coupling 22. Forsupplying fluids to the header 20 there may be provided 8.

supply pipe 23 which passes through the boiler wall and which isconnected to the valve controlled supply pipes 24 and 25 respectively.One of these latter supply pipes may be connected to a source of wateror like liquid supply while the other supply pipe may be connected to asource of cleaning fluid such as steam, so that either steam or watermay be supplied to the blower elements at the will of the operator. Ifdesired, additional blower elements 26 may be provided for dischargingadditional jets of cleaning fluid adjacent the boiler tubes and otherparts of the boiler to be cleaned. Because of the relative closeproximity of the tubes 13 to the flames and hot gases in the fire box10, accumulation of slag upon these tubes is relatively rapid. Thisaccumulation, unless removed at proper intervals, will, within acomparatively short period of time, completely block the space betweenadjacent tubes of the row, interfering with circulation of the gases andsubjecting the tubes toa continuous high temperature which isdetrimental.

Under the teachings of this invention, fluid such as water dischargingfrom the pipes 14 is adapted to flow down the sides of tubes 13 to theunder surfaces of these tubes, exercising a cooling efiect upon any slagdeposits that may adhere to these surfaces. Thus, in use, water may beadmitted at predetermined intervals to the header 20 by way of pipe 24,the water flowing from the header 20 to the pipe 14 and discharging fromthe latter through the openings 16. The sudden cooling and resultantcontraction of any slag deposits upon the tubes 13 resulting from thisflow of water loosens these deposits to such an extent that they willeither drop from the tubes or may be readily blown from the tubes by asubsequent discharge of steam. This subsequent discharge may be effectedeither by supplying steam to the pipes 14 after cutting off the watersupply thereto or may result from an operation of the blower elements26.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides blowerelements which are arranged in juxtaposition to the parts of. the boilerto be cleaned. Each blower element is provided with a side defined by aside of the boiler part with which it is associated, and this side of'the blower element constitutes a wall which seats on and is thus inthermal contact with the boiler part. Thus heat will be conducted awayfrom the blower elements through the boiler tubes or boiler parts withwhich the blower elements are associated so that the blower elements maybe arranged in the hottest parts of the boiler without danger of theirbeing burned.

It will further be apparent that the invention provides a device bywhich a cooling fluid such as water may be flowed over the surfaces ofthe tubes 13 upon which the slag collects. Thus the slag will beloosened to such an extent that it may be readily removed from thetubes.

For the sake of convenience. the invention has been described as beingembodied in a boiler cleaner for cleaning parts of a boiler. It will bereadily apparent, however, that the invention may also be embodied indevices for cleaning apparatuses similar to boilers, and it is to betherefore understood that the term boiler wherever used in thespecification or claims is to be construed as meaning a heat transferapparatus or fluid heater-of any character, while the term boilercleaner is to be construed as meaning a tive of the limits of theinventive idea. The'right is reserved to make such changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within thepurview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a relatively cool boilerpart, of a blower element having discharge openings arranged todischarge cleaning fluid adjacent parts of the boiler to be cleaned todislodge deposits therefrom, said blower element being positivelysecured in contact with said boiler part and having a wall engaging asubstantial portion of the same sufiicient to provide for cooling ofsaid element by said boiler part.

2. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a relatively cool boilerpart, of a blower: element having discharge openings arranged todischarge cleaning fluid adjacent parts of the boiler to be cleaned todislodge deposits from thesame, said blower. element being positivelysecured in contact with said boiler part and having a wall seating onand having sufficient thermal contact with said boiler part to providefor cooling of said blower element by said boiler part.

3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler part, of meansproviding a cleaning fluid passage in juxtaposition to said boiler part,said means being positively secured in contact with said boiler part andhaving sumcient thermal contact with said boiler part to be cooledthereby and being so constructed and positioned as to discharge cleaningfluid adjacent parts of the boiler to be cleaned to dislodge depositsfrom the same.

4. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler part relativelycool as compared to the zone in which it is located, of means providinga cleaning fluid passage partially surrounding and in heat exchangerelation with respect to a portion of said boiler part, said means beingpositively secured in contact with said boiler part and being soconstructed and positioned as to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent theparts of the boiler to be cleaned to dislodge deposits from the same.

5. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler part relativelycool as .compared to the zone in which it is located, of meanspositively secured in contact with said boiler part providing a cleaningfluid passage in heat exchange relation I I a blower element in heatexchange relation with respect to and partially surrounding a portion ofsaid boiler tube, said blower element being so constructed andpositioned as to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent parts of the boilerto be cleaned to dislodge deposits from the same.

'7. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler tube, of meansproviding a blower element in juxtaposition to said boiler tube, and soconstructed and positioned as to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent partsof the boiler to be cleaned to dislodge deposits from the same, saidblower element having a wall positively secured in suflicient thermalcontact with said boiler tube to be cooled thereby.

8. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler tube, of meansproviding a blower element extending parallel with said boiler tube,said blower element having discharge openings arranged to dischargecleaning fluid adjacent'parts of the boiler tobe cleaned to dislodgedeposits from the same and having a wall positively secured insuflicient thermal contact with said boiler tube to be cooled thereby.

9. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler tube, of meansproviding a blower element adjacent said boiler tube, said blowerelement having discharge openings arranged to discharge cleaning fluidadjacent parts of the boiler to be cleaned to dislodge deposits from thesame and having a wall seating on said boiler tube and positivelysecured in sufiicient thermal contact with the same to be cooledthereby.

10. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler tube, of meanspositively secured in contact with said boiler tube providing a blowerelement parallel with and in heat exchange relation with respect to saidboiler tube, said blower element having discharge openings arranged todischarge cleaning fluid adjacent parts of the boiler to be cleaned todislodge deposits from the same and having a side concentric with saidboiler its ftube and'theheat exchange-relation being such that-heatfiowsfrom said blower element to said boiler tube.

11. In -a-boiler cleanen'the combination :withna. boiler tube, of meanspositively secured-in contact --with said boiler tube 4 providing a a iblower element .fixed parallel with and partially surrounding :a portionof. said boiler tube, said blower element being provided with dischargeopenings Ifor .directing jets "of cleaning fluid adjacent portions of-the'boiler to be cleaned to dislodge deposits "from 'the same and'beingarrangedin suchiheat exchange relation with respect to said boiler tube"that the blower element is cooledbysaid-boiler tube.

'12. In a boiler-cleaner, the combination :with a boiler tube relativelycool ascompared -to.the 'zone in which it is located, of means=providing a blower element fixed parallel with and par- -tiallysurrounding a-portion-o'fsaid :boiler tube, said blower element havingdischarge openings arranged to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent partsof the boiler tobe cleaned to dislodge-deposits from the same and-havinga wall engaging "said-boilertube and positively secured in thermalcontact with the same.

13. 'The=combination with a boiler-tube located with respect-to thecombustion chamber so as-to be subjected to the accumulation of slag,-ofa water pipe arranged immediately above sa'i'd tube and substantiallyparallel therewith and'formed with a row ofdownward-outlets'for the'discharge of water toward said tube.

14. The combination'with'a boilertube located with respect to'thecombustion chamber was to be subjected to the accumulation of slag,o'f-a fluid pipe-seating upon said tube and provided with rows ofoutlets opening downwardly adjacent the opposite sides of said-pipe'forrespectively discharging fluid upon the sides of said boiler tube.

15. The combination'with a boiler tube, of a "flattened'fluid 'pipeseating upon said tube "and having a cylindrically concavedunderfaceconforming to'the curvature of saidboiler tube, said pipe havingdownward outlets adjacent its side walls and disposed'on opposite sidesof the boiler tube for discharging respectively upon opposite sides ofthe boiler tube. V

16. The combination with'abank'ofboiler tubes close adjacent .tothefurnace, of a fluid conducting pipe associated with each of the tubes-ofthe lower row of said bank, each-ofsaid'pipes'having an orifice arrangedto flow a slag removing fluid around its respective tube.

17. The combination with 'a boiler part, of means providing a blowerelement adjacent said boiler part, said blower element being providedwith discharge openings for directing afluid from said blower elementadjacent said boiler :part, means for supplying water tosaidblower-element' and means for supplying steam to said blowerelement.

18. The combination with a'boiler'tube'located with respect to thecombustion chamber so as to be subjected to the accumulation of slag, ofmeans providing a blower element extending from a point outside of saidboiler setting, said blower element being positioned parallel to andadjacent to said boiler tube and being provided with discharge openingsfor directing a fluid adjacent said tube, means for supplying a slagremoving fluid to said blower element, and means for supplying acleaning fluid to said blower element.

19. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a :boiler tube, of rmeansproviding'za: blower .element -arranged' longitudinally of said tubeandzpositively secured in suflicient thermal contact with said 1 tubetobe cooled thereby,.said blower elementbe- =ing so constructed andpositioned as to-discharge cleaning fluid adjacent parts oftheboiler'to'be cleaned todislodge deposits from the same.

20. Ina boiler cleaner, :the combination with -a boiler tube, of meansincluding'a wall providing 'a blowerelement extending longitudinally ofsaid boiler tube, said wall being positively secured insuflicientIthermaI contact with .said boiler .tube:throughoutsubstantially its entire length to be :cooledthereby, andsaid blower selement'being so constructed and positioned asto dischargecleaning fluidadjacent parts of theboiler to be cleaned to dislodgedeposits from the same.

21.The combination with .a boiler .tube, of a cleaner pipe extendingadjacent .said tube .and formed with outlets fora discharge against saidtube, and means for selectively admitting .water -or steam to said pipe.

22. The combination with a boiler part, and a steam blower for cleaninga predetermined portion of said part, of a pipe adjacent said parthaving outlets forthe dischargeof a slag removing liquid upon theportion of said part cleaned by said steam blower.

23. The combination with a boiler tube located -with respect to thecombustion chamber so .as to "be subjected to the accumulation of slag,of (a water pipe arranged above said tube and substantially paralleltherewith and formed with a row of downward outlets for the discharge ofwater upon said tube, said outlets being so posi- "tioned anddirectedthat a filmof waterzis caused to cover theboiler tube'forremoving slag and the like from the boiler tube.

'24. The combination with a boiler part located with respect to thecombustion chamber so as to be subjected 'to the accumulation of slag,of -a fluid conducting pipe extending from a point outside the boilersetting and having means within the boiler setting for discharging thefluid from the pipe toward the slag accumulation means for controllingthe supply of a cleaning fluid through said pipe, a source of slagremoving fluid, and means for controlling 'thesu'pply 'of said slagremoving fluid'through :said'pipe.

25. The combination with-a boiler partlocated' '-with respcct'to thecombustion chamber so 'as'to be subjected to the accumulation of slag,ofmeans for selectively covering the slag coated portion or said partwith a film of water to effect a contraction of the slag and-dischargingsteam into immediate contact with the slag coated portion of said part.

26. In a boiler cleaner for a water tube boiler, means for discharging acooling fiuid upon the outsideof a water tube to loosen-deposits there-'on, and means for dislodging the-deposits from said tube while thedeposits are loosened, both of said means being operable duringoperation of the boiler.

27. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler'tube, ofmeanslpositively securedin contact with and extending a substantialdistance longitudinally of the boiler tube providing a cleaning fluidpassage parallel with and partially surrounding said boiler tube, thesurface of said passage disposed toward said tube being concentric withthe tube, and means providing for the discharge of cleaning fluid fromsaid passage adja- 7 cent the portions of the boiler to be cleaned todislodge deposits therefrom.

'28. A fluid conducting tube and blower-unit for a circulatory systemconsisting of means proof said passages, the last mentioned passagebeing separated from the first mentioned passage by means including awall concentric with the axis of the first mentioned passage, and meansproviding for the discharge of cleaning fluid from the second mentionedpassage adjacent portions of the boiler to be cleaned to dislodgedeposits therefrom. I i r 29. In a boiler cleaner, the combination witha boiler tube, of means associated with, positively secured in contactwith and extending a substantial distance longitudinally of said boilertube providing a cleaning fluid passage adjacent to, exteriorly of andparallel with said boiler tube, one side of said cleaning fluid passageconforming in shape to the shape of the adjacent side of the boilertube, and means providing for the discharge of cleaning fluid from saidcleaning fluid passage adjacent portions of the boiler to be cleaned todislodge deposits therefrom.

30. A fluid conducting tube and blower unit for a circulatory systemconsisting of means providing a pair of adjacent parallel passagespositively secured in such heat exchange relation with respect to eachother that the one is cooled by the other, means providing for theconnection of one of said passages to the circulatory system of aboiler, means for supplying cleaning fluid to the other of saidpassages, the last mentioned passage being disposed exteriorly of thefirst mentioned passage and the adjacent portions of said passagesconforming in shape to each other, and means providing for the discharge,of cleaning fluid from the second mentioned passage adjacent portionsof the boiler to be cleaned to dislodge deposits therefrom, the heatexchange relation being such that heat flows from the second mentionedpassage to the first.

31, .A unit including a tubular cleaning member for a soot cleaner and acooling-element therefor comprising walls positively secured in suchthermal contact with each other throughout the length of one of thewalls that the one is cooled by the other and forming fluid carryingpassages, one of which is for a substantial portion of its length atleast partially surrounded by the other, there being provided dischargeopenings through a single wall of said unit placing one of said passagesin communication with the medium surrounding the member.

.32. A combined tubular cleaning member for a soot cleaner and a coolingmeans therefor composed of walls positively secured in such thermalcontact with each other throughout the length of one of the walls thatthe one is cooled by the other and forming a pair of adjacent parallelpassages, means for supplying a cooling fluid to :one of said passages,.means for supplying a cleaning fluid to the-other of said passages, and

means providing for the discharge of cleaning .fluid from said lastmentioned passage into the medium surrounding the member.

. 33. A combined tubular cleaning unit for a soot -:cleaner;and acooling means therefor comprising sufiicient thermal contact with saidrelatively cool member to ,be cooled thereby and being so constructedand positioned as to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent parts to becleaned to dislodge deposits from the same.

34. A combined tubular cleaning member for a soot cleaner and a coolingmeans therefor com prising a cooled tube, and means providing a blowerelement having discharge openings, said blower element having a wallpositively secured in sufficient thermal contact with the cooled tube tobe cooled thereby.

35. A combined tubular member for a soot cleaning apparatus and acooling means therefor composed of walls positively secured insuflicient thermal contact with each other along longitudinal lines thatthe one is cooled by the other and arranged to form a passage for acooling fluid and a separate passage for a cleaning fluid disposedexteriorly of said cooling fluid passage, and means providing for thedischarge of cleaning fluid from said cleaning fluid passage.

36. A tubular cleaning member for a soot cleaner and a cooling meanstherefor consisting of two pipe sections positively secured in sumcientthermal contact with each other throughout the length of one of saidpipe sections that the one is cooled by theother, means providing forthe supply of a cooling fluid to one of said pipe sections, and meansproviding for the supply of a cleaning fluid to the other of said pipesections, said last mentioned pipe section being provided withopeningsfor discharging the cleaning fluid "from .the same.

.charge openings passing through a single wall to provide for thedischarge of cleaning fluid from said last mentioned passage adjacentparts of the fluid heater'to be cleaned to dislodge deposits from thesame.

38. In combination, a nozzled cleaner tube, a fluid cooled tube, asource of cleaning fluid supply for the cleaner tube, .a source of fluidsupply for the fluid cooled tube, and means positively securing a wallof said cleaner tube in sufiicient thermal contact with a wall of saidfluid cooled tube as to be cooled thereby.

WILLIS P. THOMAS.

